The Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) returns to Hastings on Saturday after a two-year hiatus, following track repairs prompted by a first-race slip.
Fortuna Racing's John Galvin welcomes the return as a reminder of Melody Belle's three straight wins in the Windsor Park Plate.
The mare won all seven Hastings starts, each a Group One, plus seven Triple Crown races across three years.
She became the first horse to sweep the series in 2019.
After racing in Sydney, she missed the opening leg of her third campaign, then won the mile and Livamol Classic.
Melody Belle retired in 2021 with 19 wins, including 14 Group Ones, more than $4 million in stakes and consecutive New Zealand Horse of the Year titles.
Galvin said Hawke's Bay may struggle to regain the Triple Crown's opening leg, now held at Ellerslie.
Her daughter Lyrics 'N' Song, trained by Mark Walker, has won twice; Galvin hopes she emulates her mother.